Buying on Bicycle Blue Book
Whether you've bought an item from BBB Direct, a Private Seller, or a Dealer—you can keep track of all your buying activity in your Purchase History. Here are some shopping tips for the marketplace:
Our search options let you hone in on the exact bike you're looking for
Instant access to our Value Guide pricing helps you validate the asking price
Contact the seller to ask questions or request more details
Bikes fulfilled by BBB Direct are professionally inspected and serviced
Types of sellers
BBB Certified
These are the items that are fulfilled directly by Bicycle Blue Book and have been inspected, reconditioned, and tuned by our team of professional mechanics. These items ship from our warehouse in San Jose, CA and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Direct Sellers
These are individuals who are selling items privately and have been screened using our integrated fraud protection software.
Verified Stores
These sellers have been verified by Bicycle Blue Book and have a business selling new and used items.
Local Classifieds
These are individuals privately selling items that prefer to transact locally and have not been screened using our fraud protection software.
Search Function
If you already know the name of the item that you’re searching for, use the search bar at the top of the page.
Filters
Use the filters on the left-hand side of the page to narrow your results. You can search for a specific type of bike (road, mountain, hybrid, etc.), size, price range, or several other options.
Wishlist
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can create a wishlist using the filters. Once an item that meets your wishlist criteria is added to the marketplace, you’ll receive a notification.
Save
If you've got your eye on something but you're not quite ready to commit, you can add it to your saved list while you make up your mind. Remember that this will not hold the bike for you and someone else can buy it while you’re deciding!
Compare
Have your eye on a few items? Use the compare button to easily see the difference and help make your decision.
Making an offer
On some listings, sellers accept offers. You’re allowed 3 chances to make an offer. Do not make an offer unless you are prepared to purchase the item. Making an offer is a commitment to purchasing the item. If your offer is accepted, the item will be added to your shopping cart, and you will be obligated to complete the purchase. You will be notified of offers, and counteroffers in your account notifications.
Buyer protection
BBB Certified, Verified Store, and Direct Seller transactions require you to use the Bicycle Blue Book system to complete the transaction. However, only BBB Certified sales are covered with buyer protection. Verified Store and Direct Seller transactions and disputes are not covered by Bicycle Blue Book and all disputes are to be handled between the buyer and seller and their respective financial institutes. Any and all transactions completed outside of the Marketplace are not covered with purchase protection.
Paying for an item
Items purchased from BBB Certified, Verified Stores and Direct Sellers must be made using the payment methods offered in the Bicycle Blue Book Marketplace listing. Items can be purchased from “BBB Certified” using a credit card or your PayPal account. Items purchased from Verified Stores and Direct Sellers must use a credit/debit card as the payment method.
Returns/Missing Items
If the seller accepts returns, then you can request a return in “Purchase history” in the items order details. If an item does not arrive, arrives damaged, or doesn't match the description, you should first try to contact the seller for resolution. For Verified Store and Direct Sellers, all disputes must be handled between the buyer, seller, and your financial institution.
Contact the seller
Get in touch with your seller if you've had an issue with an order or you have a question about an item you'd like to buy. To contact the seller after a purchase, you can click their name in “Purchase history” in the order details section.
Why User Accounts Get Deactivated
There are two main reasons why a user account might be deactivated:
1. By the User: The user decided they no longer wanted the account and deactivated it themselves. This might be because they're not interested in the service anymore, or they’ve already sold their bike.
2. By the Service: The service provider deactivated your account for violating their terms of use. This could include things like posting inappropriate content, spamming other users, or creating fake accounts.
In some cases, accounts might also be deactivated for inactivity, especially if there are complaints from other users.
If your account is deactivated, you'll usually get a notification explaining why. The service might also let you reactivate your account, but this depends on the reason for deactivation.
Types of sellers
BBB Certified
These are the items that are fulfilled directly by Bicycle Blue Book and have been inspected, reconditioned, and tuned by our team of professional mechanics. These items ship from our warehouse in San Jose, CA and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Direct Sellers
These are individuals who are selling items privately and have been screened using our integrated fraud protection software.
Verified Stores
These sellers have been verified by Bicycle Blue Book and have a business selling new and used items.
Local Classifieds
These are individuals privately selling items that prefer to transact locally and have not been screened using our fraud protection software.
Search Function
If you already know the name of the item that you’re searching for, use the search bar at the top of the page.
Filters
Use the filters on the left-hand side of the page to narrow your results. You can search for a specific type of bike (road, mountain, hybrid, etc.), size, price range, or several other options.
Wishlist
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can create a wishlist using the filters. Once an item that meets your wishlist criteria is added to the marketplace, you’ll receive a notification.
Save
If you've got your eye on something but you're not quite ready to commit, you can add it to your saved list while you make up your mind. Remember that this will not hold the bike for you and someone else can buy it while you’re deciding!
Compare
Have your eye on a few items? Use the compare button to easily see the difference and help make your decision.
Making an offer
On some listings, sellers accept offers. You’re allowed 3 chances to make an offer. Do not make an offer unless you are prepared to purchase the item. Making an offer is a commitment to purchasing the item. If your offer is accepted, the item will be added to your shopping cart, and you will be obligated to complete the purchase. You will be notified of offers, and counteroffers in your account notifications.
Buyer protection
BBB Certified, Verified Store, and Direct Seller transactions require you to use the Bicycle Blue Book system to complete the transaction. However, only BBB Certified sales are covered with buyer protection. Verified Store and Direct Seller transactions and disputes are not covered by Bicycle Blue Book and all disputes are to be handled between the buyer and seller and their respective financial institutes. Any and all transactions completed outside of the Marketplace are not covered with purchase protection.
Paying for an item
Items purchased from BBB Certified, Verified Stores and Direct Sellers must be made using the payment methods offered in the Bicycle Blue Book Marketplace listing. Items can be purchased from “BBB Certified” using a credit card or your PayPal account. Items purchased from Verified Stores and Direct Sellers must use a credit/debit card as the payment method.
Returns/Missing Items
If the seller accepts returns, then you can request a return in “Purchase history” in the items order details. If an item does not arrive, arrives damaged, or doesn't match the description, you should first try to contact the seller for resolution. For Verified Store and Direct Sellers, all disputes must be handled between the buyer, seller, and your financial institution.
Contact the seller
Get in touch with your seller if you've had an issue with an order or you have a question about an item you'd like to buy. To contact the seller after a purchase, you can click their name in “Purchase history” in the order details section.
Why User Accounts Get Deactivated
There are two main reasons why a user account might be deactivated:
1. By the User: The user decided they no longer wanted the account and deactivated it themselves. This might be because they're not interested in the service anymore, or they’ve already sold their bike.
2. By the Service: The service provider deactivated your account for violating their terms of use. This could include things like posting inappropriate content, spamming other users, or creating fake accounts.
In some cases, accounts might also be deactivated for inactivity, especially if there are complaints from other users.
If your account is deactivated, you'll usually get a notification explaining why. The service might also let you reactivate your account, but this depends on the reason for deactivation.